Malabar grouper
(Epinephelus malabaricus)

The Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus) also known as blackspot rockcod, estuary rockcod, giant rock cod, greasy grouper, Malabar rockcod, Morgans cod or speckled grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region. It has entered the Mediterranean Sea from the Red Sea by way of the Suez Canal as a Lessepsian migrant.

Distribution and habitat
The Malabar grouper is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific area from the eastern coast of Africa to the Tonga Islands, Red Sea included. It has also been recorded in the Levantine Sea and the eastern Mediterranean, as a Lessespian migrant through the Suez Canal, although it is still rather rare in the Mediterranean. This grouper lives in various habitats, such as lagoons, mangroves, coral and rocky reefs, sandy and muddy bottom areas, between 2 and 150 m deep. The juveniles prefers lagoon or brackish areas.

Description

The Malabar grouper can reach a length up to 235 cm (92 in) and 150 kg, but average size is usually around 100 cm (39 in).

It has a light grey to light brownish background color, with a number of dark brown spots randomly scattered, which increase in number with age. The body has also a various number of brown diagonal strip